As an oleander, I am a resilient and beautiful shrub, prized for my vibrant blooms and tough, leathery leaves. However, my beauty attracts unwanted guests—sap-sucking and leaf-chewing pests that can compromise my health and splendor. From my perspective, a healthy plant, here is how you can help me manage these invasions in a way I can tolerate.
My best defense against any pest is my own innate strength. When you plant me in well-draining soil and provide me with the right amount of sunlight and water, I can produce my own chemical defenses. Please avoid over-fertilizing me, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers. This promotes an overabundance of soft, succulent new growth that is incredibly tempting to pests like aphids. Strong, naturally grown foliage is far less appealing to them.
These pests are particularly vexing. Aphids cluster on my tender new stems and buds, while scale insects attach themselves to my stems and leaves like small, immobile bumps. Both pierce my tissues and drain my vital sap, which can cause my leaves to yellow, curl, and drop.
For a light infestation, a strong blast of water from a hose can dislodge many aphids, washing them away for good. For both aphids and scale, you can prepare a gentle homemade spray. A solution of mild liquid soap (1-2 teaspoons per gallon of water) sprayed directly onto the pests disrupts their cell membranes and suffocates them without causing me lasting harm. For stubborn scale, you may need to gently wipe my stems with a soft cloth dipped in soapy water or rubbing alcohol to remove the protective waxy covering before the insect dies.
This is my most dedicated and voracious pest. The caterpillars, with their bright orange bodies and black bristles, can skeletonize my leaves rapidly, stripping me of my ability to photosynthesize. The best method, from my point of view, is vigilant inspection. Please regularly check the undersides of my leaves for the brightly colored clusters of their eggs and scrape them off into a bucket of soapy water. Hand-pick the caterpillars themselves if you see them; they are easy to spot. For a larger invasion, the microbial insecticide Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is highly effective. It specifically targets caterpillars when they ingest it, causing them to stop feeding, and it is harmless to you, beneficial insects, and me.
I must urgently communicate that all parts of my being are highly toxic to humans, pets, and most other animals. Every step you take to care for me must be done with this in mind. Always wear gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when handling me or performing any pest control. Never burn my clippings, as the smoke is also toxic. Ensure all preparations, even natural ones, are kept away from children and animals.
